Childhood Obesity & BMI
Current evidence suggests that overweight
children turn into overweight adults. And with and an estimated 1 in 5
children now overweight, even small improvements can have large benefits
to society.
Childhood Obesity Study Aim
To investigate the probability or likelihood that a child would be at
risk of high BMI, based on a variety of attributes characterizing the
child.
Childhood Obesity Study Result - BMI
Several statistical associations with the remaining characteristics of
children were found. The higher the parents' BMIs, the greater the risk
that their child would have a high BMI. Higher family income and larger
family size were associated with a lower risk of high BMI.
Childhood Obesity Study Result - Calorie
Intake
Dietary patterns were statistically associated with the likelihood of
high BMI. Total weight of food and beverage intake was positively associated
with the likelihood of high BMI. Also, the higher the proportion of calorie
intake from protein or fat, the higher the likelihood that a child would
have high BMI. However, total calorie intake was negatively associated
with the likelihood of high BMI. This paradoxical finding has been reported
numerous times in the past. Although its interpretation in this context
is unclear, it may be related to underreporting or dieting among heavier
children (Basiotis et al., 1989).
Childhood Obesity Study Conclusion
It was found that children most likely to have a high BMI would share
some or many of the following characteristics: Either parent or both parents
are overweight or obese; the children live in smaller families or are
poor; they consume a high proportion of calories from fat; and they are
avid TV watchers. These findings deserve further study in the light of
other research. In particular, the findings on the dietary behaviors need
to be better understood because they, along with physical activity level,
can be controlled by the individual.
Source: Publication of the USDA Center
for Nutrition Policy and Promotion 1999
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